Premier engages with Torres Strait communities

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has arrived on Thursday Island in Far North Queensland to meet on the first day of a three-day Torres Strait regional visit.

The Premier will engage with communities across the region, discuss issues with local Mayors and Council representatives, attend a community reception and visit a range of key sites including Thursday Island Hospital, Yam Island Primary Health Care Centre and a vital water treatment plant.

“The Torres Strait region and Far North Queensland are very important to me and my Government which is why we’re here,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

“My Government is investing tens of millions of dollars in a diverse range of projects and initiatives across the region, including the redevelopment of Thursday Island Hospital and the upgrade of the Torres Shire water infrastructure, because we want to invigorate liveability in the communities.”

On Wednesday, the Premier will visit the water treatment plant on Horn Island, which is set to undergo a $12 million refit over the next two years so the people of Thursday, Horn and Hammond Islands have access to clean water. 

“My Government is committed to solving Torres Strait’s water quality issue with the installation of a filtration system that also directly benefits the local economy through jobs in design and construction,” the Premier said.                                                                                                

The Premier will visit Thursday Island Hospital which received a $36 million investment in the 2017 Queensland budget, part of the $230 million Advancing Queensland Health’s Infrastructure Program.

“This will enable better integration of health service delivery across the communities and will also boost another of my Government’s key priorities because it’s anticipated the development will support about 125 construction jobs,” the Premier said.

“My Government’s recent budget invested $213.7 million in Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, almost $11 million more than the previous year.

“We also committed an additional $20 million for seawall and flood mitigation work on five islands in the Torres Strait, conditional on the funding being matched by the Federal Government, so I’m pleased to also inspect the seawall site on Yam Island.”

ENDS

Media Contact:                Susan McGrady 0488 996 667